Democrats Formally Announce Debate Schedule

After a week of criticism both from fellow Democrats and from outside the party, DNC officials announced on Thursday the final schedule for the party’s primary debates.

To the frustration of many of the lower tier candidates, the first debate is set for October 13, just over 90 days before the first-in-the-nation primaries begin.

Campaign officials for Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley and Jim Webb pressed for more than six debates while reports surfaced that Hillary Clinton’s advisers had urged the party to schedule even fewer.

Vice President Joe Biden is expected to announce whether he will join the race for the Democrat nomination in the coming weeks, which may have a measurable effect on who ultimately makes the 1% cut for a seat on the first debate stage.